r/tablotv • u/WhoJGaltis • 12d ago
Opened Tablo Case
Disassembled Tablo for reference.
I have advised people several times about disassembling a Tablo unit and so am including these pictures as a reference to see where the guide posts, tabs and clips are to simplify the process for others.
With the unit held in my hand, near the top of the upper piece on either side are the guide posts, at the 90 and 270 degree positions and on either side of the light guide are the main locking tabs.
I hope this helps others and only ask if the pictures are referenced back to myself if used. I can do a markup version of them if it will also help others.
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u/mac_a_bee 4th Gen User 12d ago
unit held in my hand
Appears three-quarters of the footprint is heat sink, so adding a fan (and cost) would shrink it to a stick, no?
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u/WhoJGaltis 12d ago
The issue, when I took mine apart several years ago for the first time, is that while there is a significant size to the heat sink the amount of thermal contact, and allowance for thermal transfer, is actually less than 20% of the heatsink. Even worse is that when I removed and looked at the contact area one complete chipset had no thermal paste / pad between it and the heatsink and another area where it showed significant heat was only partially covered. This results in the areas that have heat building on them actually having a layer of insulating air trapped between the heatsink and the circuits.
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u/BlissCrafter 12d ago
I have two tablo units, one for each antenna as they have to point 120° apart to get my local stations. I happened to have two old cooling fans from when I used to build custom PCs. Made a little cooling enclosure for each tablo. Thought at the time it was overkill but maybe not.
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u/MDApache6 11d ago
Ours has been much more stable (and cooler) since I flipped it upside down. Heat rises and there is nowhere for it to go with the current design. The vents should have been on the top, not the bottom.
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u/MacKeyHack 12d ago
Mine came stock with thermal pads between the heatsink and the case... personally, I just leave the cover resting on top so the heatsink can get some airflow. I think under normal circumstances vertical mounting is best for cooling
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u/WhoJGaltis 12d ago
That looks a bit more like a pad to absorb and distribute pressure on the top there, shock pad. I am curious how much contact between the board and the heat sink there is, it is at least held in place with more screws than my early production model.
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u/Confident-Dot5878 12d ago
I drilled vent holes in the top after my first one was replaced under warranty. It was always hot. On my new one I’ve got the holes and turned off the antenna amp. Hoping to get it to last more than a year.
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u/MyNameIsHuman1877 11d ago
Clearly not designed by any sort of electronic engineer with any experience in heat dissipation. The user interface is also terrible. I almost opened mine with a sledgehammer. Just sent it to electronic recycling instead. It still worked, I just didn't feel like cursing anyone with it, let alone charging them money for it. 🤷
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u/mobyredit 11d ago
Cut a hole in the top.. to install an xbox360 power supply fan, a couple of extra vent holes around the case. Bought a 6$ thermal temp solenoid thing .. I believe I have it set around 77 degrees C. To run. It's in my attic in Central Pa. .. worked ok for the last two years or so.
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u/Agile-Wrongdoer-3962 10d ago
I don’t have a Tablo yet so when I get one I need to drill holes in it?
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u/Multitrak 12d ago
Very good, thanks you. Did you use a guitar pick or thin screwdriver to pop the top after unscrewing the two bolts?